The now well-publicized lawsuit accusing Harvard of 'Racial Rebalancing' has led to aspects of Harvard's much-hidden admissions process to finally come to light. While Metro Academic Prep has been aware of this process for years and regularly shares it with its clients, this article allows the general public to learn more about what happens behind the scenes. Here are some of the highlights:

During a final review of tentatively admitted students, the dean and the director of admissions decide how many students need to be "lopped," by changing their status to waitlist or deny.

Applicants who are borderline academically can be "Z-ed" off the waitlist if they are on the dean's interest list (usually indicating that the family has made a large donation to the school).

"Tips" are given to five groups of applicants: racial and ethnic minorities; legacies, or the children of Harvard or Radcliffe alumni; relatives of a Harvard donor; the children of staff or faculty members; and recruited athletes.

Applicants are given a personal rating which considers character and personality, and Asian-Americans are regularly given poor ratings reducing their chances of admission.